Unchecked capitalism is everyone's problem

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George Bush is the first world leader to understand and publicly
proclaim that human rights stand above "stability", that risks must
sometimes be taken to free people too beaten-down to free
themselves.

Living under a theocracy or any other autocracy is tolerable if
you're a true believer but unbearable for the dissenter. With all
its faults, democracy is the form of government that best
guarantees human rights.

Judith Rona, Bondi, November 4.

I've been consoling myself that, at least constitutionally,
George Bush won't be in the White House in 2008. Then,
disturbingly, I remembered Jeb.

Craig Henderson, Woollamia, November 4.

Oh well, nothing new for Australia. Same local manager, same
overseas boss.

V. Marshall, Erskineville, November 4.

The silver lining: at least no one can say the Americans are
smarter than us.

Annie Bradley, Balgowlah Heights, November 4.

The comment in Peter Hartcher's article ("It's the American
people, stupid", Herald, November 4) that the American
people themselves, and not George Bush, will now be seen as "the
problem" does not look deeply enough. The problem is unchecked
capitalism. When large corporations control the government, the
economy and the provision of information, can you blame the people?
The tragedy is that because of America's worldwide influence, it is
everyone's problem.

Chris Moon, Bellingen, November 4.

Hicks and Habib had better make themselves comfortable.

D. Hurst, Lindfield, November 4.

On both sides of the Pacific this morning, rabid left-wingers
are counting their lucky stars. If John Kerry had won, the supply
of letters to newspapers would have dried up overnight, and
hundreds of columnists would have been out of a job. Michael Moore
could even have been forced to make real documentaries about real
issues.

Imagine if Mark Latham and John Kerry had won. The big issues
that affect the lives of ordinary people - children overboard, a
few dozen troops babysitting diplomats in Iraq, detention of
illegal immigrants, a president who isn't particularly good at
public speaking - would have vanished overnight.

God forbid we should be left to deal with abstract things like
global terrorism, the economy, and less government intervention in
the lives and pockets of the people.

Scott Hillard, Hamilton South, November 4.

The morning after the election I noticed on his web home page
that Mike Moore was hiding behind the pictures of those who have
died in the Iraq War. Do we know how many pieces of silver he has
made with his movies about the deaths of his fellow countrymen
under the cover of documentaries?

Paul Rosman, St Ives, November 4.

The odds were against the incumbent, whose decision to topple
oppressive regimes and put a stop to the mass murderer Saddam
Hussein made the blood of left-wingers worldwide boil. Yet despite
the political fire fuelled by the cultural left and Hollywood elite
to bring him down, George Bush has remained positive and has
persevered to be granted a second term in the White House.

Once again, the silent majority has spoken and voted for reason
and vision over opportunism and empty rhetoric. President Bush,
like the Prime Minister, John Howard, has captured the attention of
voters who want strong leadership by example and the promise of a
brighter future.

So long as they are unable to get their heads around the fact
most people do not want to be told what is best for them by their
governments, let alone other people's, the Australian Labor Party
and US Democratic Party will be doomed to opposition.

Benjamin Smith, Glenmore Park, November 4.

The dark ages continue.

Wayne Montgomery, Hurstville, November 4.

Thankfully the majority of Americans believe it is better to die
on your feet than live on your knees.

George Fishman, Vaucluse, November 4.

George will be unstoppable now. Fishman, not Bush.

John Goldbaum, Potts Point, November 4.

Now that Hillary Clinton has had her wish come true with George
Bush's re-election, one must ask what will she inherit in 2008 if
she does become the next Democrat candidate and first woman to hold
the office of president. Will creating history be enough to
overcome the problems of eight years of Bush rule?

Maybe when the time comes even she will not want a bar of the
mess.

D. Fraser, Gold Coast (Qld), November 4.

As in Australia, the silent majority win out. Congratulations,
America, you didn't let the terrorists win.

Michael Burd, Toorak (Vic), November 4.

At least George Bush won't be able to blame failure in Iraq on a
change of administration.

Matthew Flattery, Bondi, November 4.

George W., your people appear to like you after all.

Pastr de Lasala, Seaforth, November 4.

For the first time the religious right has been a potent,
perhaps decisive force in the US presidential election. Muslim
fundamentalism in the east versus Christian fundamentalism in the
US.

And for the first time in Australia we have the voice of the
religious right in the Federal Government. What next?

A. Ireland, Beecroft, November 4.

If He votes Republican, thank God I'm an atheist.

Sunil Badami, Bondi, November 4.

It's within Justice Shaw's power to assert his rights

The Deputy Police Commissioner, Dave Madden, says the discovery
that Justice Shaw's blood sample was missing was a "shock" ("Police
turned away without judge's blood", Herald, November 4). And
he asserts that, "It's a tragedy both from the public's confidence
in the police [and] from Mr Shaw's perspective because he can
neither right nor wrong any allegation made against him."

While agreeing on the need for an exhaustive investigation, and
accepting that Mr Shaw has no legal obligation to hand over the
duplicate sample of his blood, I suggest the "tragedy" for him of
being unable to clarify any allegation can be overcome by handing
over the sample.

This should not subvert his rights - rather it could reinforce
his rights.

Margeri Mather, Woollahra, November 4.

We can only hope the watchdogs looking for the sample are
bloodhounds.

James Zaunders, Bronte, November 3.

Justice Shaw's blood sample isn't lost - it's just stuck on a
CityRail train somewhere. Along with all those barristers' tax
returns.

Scott Pfaff, Kingsgrove, November 4.

How apt seem the words of Justice Shaw's namesake George
Bernard: "In a battle all you need to make you fight is a little
hot blood and the knowledge that it's more dangerous to lose than
to win."

Peter Fyfe, Lavender Bay, November 3.

The Honorable Jeff Shaw?

Angelo Darmon, Burwood, November 3.

Oh no, there are dingo prints at Jeff Shaw's place.

Danny Mackay, St Ives, November 4.

Another look at the decline in education

While Miranda Devine ("A toxic twist in the learning curve",
Herald, November 4) may think the educational pendulum is
swinging back towards conservative values, in truth she - and, I
presume, the cohort of conservative authors - miss the point that
the educational agenda has as much been subverted by market forces
as it has by relativism.

One cannot have an education without some immutable absolutes,
but the blunt truth is that secondary education has become fixated
on streaming children onto career paths. Even more so, tertiary
education has been restructured to impose substantial costs on the
contemplation of one's "place in society, humanity and the
universe" or on insight into "moral and social issues".

This market-driven agenda has had the desired effect, with
parental preoccupation with paying for tutoring, private schools,
HECS and now full university fees to ensure kids become better
earners, not better people.

David Cumming, Mosman, November 4.

As a retired teacher, I am encouraged that at last a book is
being launched that calls for true education in our schools. I look
forward to reading it.

Margaret Douglass, Wyoming, November 4.

Life at the bar

Readers can be assured that the NSW bar is definitely not in
denial about the dangerous combination of alcohol and high stress
which can accompany practice at the bar ("Time to stop protecting
boozy mates", Herald, November 4).

That is why in 2001 the Bar Association established BarCare, a
counselling service designed to assist members through emotional
and stress-related problems, including family or marital problems,
drug or alcohol dependency and practice pressures. The association
covers the cost of the initial consultation with a counsellor.

P.A. Selth, NSW Bar Association, Sydney, November 4.

Russia's gratitude

I would like to express my deep and sincere gratitude to all
Australians who sent condolences, flowers, toys and other tokens to
the Russian Embassy in Canberra and the Russian Consulate-General
in Sydney for the victims of the Beslan tragedy.

My special thanks to those who contributed financially to the
restoration of normal life of the devastated families of Beslan.
The embassy is forwarding the money, condolence books and gifts to
the bereaved people in Ossetia.

Be assured that people from Beslan and the wider Russian
community will not consign to oblivion your warm response to these
tragic events.

Leonid Moiseev, Ambassador of Russia, Canberra, November
4.

Our mate Lawsy

I find it a bit rich that John Laws, from his
multimillion-dollar Finger Wharf apartment, with his dozens of
classic cars, corporate sponsors and cultural power, claims to
speak for "truck drivers, wharf labourers, and red-blooded
Australian men", and other "fair-dinkum Aussie blokes" ("Laws lets
loose", Spike, November 4). He speaks as an "ordinary Australian"
against the "elites" when he surely is one of the most powerful
elites this city and this country has.

Raymond Miles, Surry Hills, November 4.

John Laws's vitriolic rant against Carson Kressley is a clear
demonstration of what is wrong with the world today: our apparent
inability to tolerate anyone or anything that is different from
ourselves.

Anne Healy, Cammeray, November 4.

One happy camper

Recently I spent over five weeks in Sydney receiving medical
treatment, and I was somewhat apprehensive, even though a friend
was with me.

However, I was truly delighted by the kindness, consideration
and general good-naturedness of the people, in every aspect of
daily living.

The ticket collector at Woy Woy went to great lengths to ensure
I reached an old friend at her new address; at the Mater Hospital
patients were made to feel that they were not just numbers, and the
treatment was first-class; bus drivers answered queries and did not
glare at incorrect money; taxi drivers cheerfully collected
baggage; hotel, shop and restaurant staff all aimed to please;
drivers stopped for pedestrians.

I am convinced that my recovery has benefited from these
pleasant encounters.

Sheila B. Longden, Auckland, November 3.

Mowing down a field of tall poppies

For Greg Weiss (Letters, November 4), who finds Makybe Diva's
win "plain boring", the exploits of such people as Don Bradman,
Jack Nicklaus, Muhammad Ali and Rod Laver would have been
intolerable. As it is, he has to put up with Ian Thorpe.

Ken Weiss, Double Bay, November 4.

Greg Weiss sounds like a hard man to please.

Matt Luxford, Terrigal, November 4.

Thumped and stumped

First Warney breaks his thumb and may be out for a few Tests,
then George Bush wins. Can this week get any worse?

Jason King, Cremorne Point, November 4.

The missing link

With all this wonderful research going on into the human genome,
has anybody discovered a morality gene?

Rod Linklater, Balmain, November 3.

Change with a 'sea'

For as long as I can remember there have been changes in
lifestyles, fashions and entertainment. Why is it that now they
have become "sea changes"? How did the sea get into it?

Sam McNamee, St Ives, November 4.

Trick over treat

After watching the antics last Sunday night, I think I can see
why Halloween American-style may never catch on here. Aussie kids
don't want the treat - they want to play the trick.

Nick Carroll, Newport Beach, November 4.

Perfecting the ugly turn

Garth Clarke (Letters, November 4) writes that some recent Oscar
victories have gone to women who put on homely faces. But these
victories underscore the point about glamour and the Oscars:
weren't they rewarding stunners for acting as if they looked, well,
ordinary?

Naomi Parry, Katoomba, November 4.

Cover point

I doubted whether NSW cricketer Dominic Thornely was worthy of
having his picture on the front of the 2004-05 White Pages Business
& Government directory. After his innings against Western
Australia, I doubt no more.

Stephen Baxter, Summer Hill, November 4.

India 2/22 at the end of play. Oh to have had Richie give the
stumps summary.

Bernie Bourke, Ourimbah, November 4.

Let the band play on

Thanks, Tony Smyth (Letters, November 4). For the second day in
a row my head was filled with the glorious Sgt Pepper's
album instead of politics (when I read the news today, oh,
boy).

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